Like most birdwatchers, I have a local patch, the open New Forest heathland near our home in Frogham, which I enjoy all year round. Unlike most people, I get to show off my patch by taking visitors round, and hopefully pointing out some of the wildlife, before delivering them back to one of Christine's epic three course picnics. So, I am always looking to improve my knowledge of the patch, and for me this has involved being a part of monitoring and surveying the wildlife here. For the past two Summers I have been keeping count of butterflies seen on one of my walk routes, through the Latchmore Valley, and have published my findings on a website, Butterflies of Latchmore. This has involved staring at every bush on a 3 mile circular route once a week for half the year, and noting down all the thousands of butterflies seen. This Spring I have also been involved in a survey of Dartford warblers, trying to determine how many pairs we have up in the gorse and heather of Hampton Ridge. Each survey, as well as giving me far more knowledge about the particular species I am studying, also gets me far better acquainted with everything else on the patch. So I notice when the first skylarks arrive, where the woodlark likes to visit, and how the local fallow deer herd moves round the valley. All of which means that I should, in theory, be able to point it out to you when you come on one of the walks. Of course, if we are walking on an August afternoon, the wildlife will be very different to that which can be found on an April morning, but it should furnish a few good stories - just stop me if I keep saying "I saw one last time I was here", particularly if everything has vanished for a well-earned siesta.
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